Valtrex and Itching: What Users Say

• Sil...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• April 19, 2019

For Herpes Simplex, Suppression "I was diagnosed in 1993, at age 19 with herpes. I’ve been on and off this drug for the last 5 years, and I do much better when I take it daily. At first, I was just taking it when I had a flare-up, but the flare-ups were still kind of frequent. Once I started on a daily 500 mg regimen, no more flare-ups. So for 2 years, I was blister-free. I ran out of my script and had trouble getting it refilled about 3 weeks ago, so I decided to try just taking L-Lysine. Nope, had the worst flare in 20 years and even had trouble sleeping because of the itching, burning pain. I started back on it and immediately my blisters started healing. Yay, science! I’ll probably take this med for the rest of my life, which is just fine with me, and you can bet that I won’t let my prescription lapse again. I just wish that some brilliant researcher would find a cure for HSV."

• Fif...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• November 20, 2019

For Herpes Simplex, Suppression "Got herpes from a girlfriend and the first outbreak was horrible, got diagnosed and was prescribed Valtrex. Took some time but it cleared up my first outbreak, since then when I start to feel discomfort (burning sensations, itchiness, sensitivity) I start taking two 500mg daily and within 3 days I am good again. Immediate relief first day. It is expensive so I don’t take daily and I will go months without needing to take. I notice eating lots of veggies help but anything peanut-related can trigger a reaction. (Peanuts have high levels of arginine)"

• Bla...
• July 31, 2017

For Herpes Simplex, Suppression "I'm 62 and have lived with it since June of 1978...almost 40 years! Just started Valtrex this summer because outbreaks were literally constant with 3 to 5 lesions at once! The itching...omg! Had to numb with an ice cube in a plastic bag and it worked, too! For some reason, this disease has become worse in the last few years, which my OB-GYN cannot understand. Back in the early 80s, Time magazine wrote a long article on it as it was newer and before the AIDS epidemic hit. In it was a line that said, 'this thing has a mind of its own,' and 'you won't kill it, but it won't kill you either!' So true!! Google the article as I found it online a few months ago. And...take care."

• muc...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 8, 2016

For Herpes Simplex, Suppression "I am pregnant and found out I had genital herpes on New Year's Eve from my boyfriend giving me oral sex with a cold sore on his lip. It burned so bad when I went pee. I had painful blisters and bumps and awful itching with a nasty discharge and swelling. OB-GYN gave me Valtrex 1 gm to take twice a day. On day one, the painful swelling I had in my labia went down a lot. By day two, the burning was gone and the big blisters went down until they were super small. The itching also got a lot better. Day three, blisters and bumps scabbed over. It's now day four and all I had left is dried-up tiny scabs over where two of the blisters were and they don't hurt at all. Bumps are gone. Basically, my vagina looks and feels almost normal again."

• Wil...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 13, 2016

For Herpes Zoster "Discovered rash on a Thursday, prescribed Valtrex on a Friday. Woke up Saturday and rash was still spreading but stopped by that night and began to dry up by Tuesday - no blisters ever formed and itching/pain was very minimal! Side effects only the first day or so, but not positive it was from Valtrex - the sickness/headaches I felt could've easily been from my anxiety. By the third day, any side effects subsided completely and had no issues finishing the medication. After reading stories of shingles sufferers who did not take antivirals, I am so happy my doctor prescribed this medication. Also, a suggestion, Burow's solution (sold as Domeboro in most pharmacies) helped soothe and dry up my rash quickly! Keep your head up!"

• Try...
• December 18, 2019

For Herpes Simplex, Suppression "I think I’ve had it for a while because, for months, I was experiencing terrible clitoral pain, and my gyno tested my blood and the clitoris. Nothing came back, but I would always feel an itchy and burning feeling at night. The beginning of last week, I experienced my first outbreak. I took this whole bottle, qty 14, and I’ve been getting more sores. I have no itchiness, mostly painful, and I’ve been so depressed. I haven’t gone to work and just have been staying in bed. I’ve been on antidepressants for a year now, and I’m scared for my future. I have two people that are close to me who have it, and it’s nice to have someone to talk to about it, but I just want this breakout to end."

• Tia...
• November 1, 2015

For Cold Sores "Suffered from cold sores since a young teen. Not only do I break out from large ones that cover half my lips, but I will get them on my cheeks. Without treatment, they will last around 9 days. I take Valtrex at the first signs. I will take 4 pills and then another 4, 12 hours later. I just had a breakout, and the bump was already big and itchy, took my 4 pills before bed and another 4 when I woke up. Bumps were gone with no scabbing by day 2!"

• Lad...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 20, 2016

For Herpes Simplex, Suppression "I can remember getting my first outbreak around 14 years old, I had suffered from chickenpox in my younger days. I didn't know what to do about these sores. I was so embarrassed going to school, would even cry. My parents never took me to the doctor for this. This continued throughout my adult life. In 2012, I went to the Bahamas for vacation. Laid out in the sun, enjoyed the ocean. Woke up to tingling...couple hours later, a gigantic blister. It was so ugly. Tried to suppress it with alcohol or Sea Breeze, that's all I had then. As I took flight, seemed like it got even bigger and the itching was unbearable. That was enough. The beginning of this year I finally sought medical attention. When I say the generic Valtrex is great...! It is!"

• jar...
• December 3, 2011

For Herpes Simplex, Suppression "I have HSV-2 since about 22, and at about age 26, Valtrex became available. I have taken 1 gram daily (somewhat consistent) until about 2.5 years ago. It was great, and I didn't have one single outbreak in almost 14 years, nor did my two long-term ex's get the virus. Unfortunately, I developed an allergic reaction from long-term use and can no longer tolerate it without a major skin rash, major itching, hypersensitivity, and also had some hair thinning. I'm trying Famvir, but so far I'm back to having outbreaks. I have gone on and off the medicine 6-7 times, and within weeks have had negative symptoms, which subside within days of discontinuing."

• Cin...
• November 17, 2016

For Herpes Simplex, Suppression "I had my first outbreak at 19 and maybe 1-2 minor outbreaks. At 38, my outbreaks became noticeable and frequent, as soon as the itching subsided, it would appear again 3 days later. Then my anus started to itch. After a visit to my gynecologist, I walked away with a prescription for 500 mg of valacyclovir to be taken daily. One week later, I had an outbreak similar to my first, except now my buttocks and thighs were included. I had a 1-inch lesion on my inner buttocks, and my vagina was swollen and weeping (the itching was unlike anything I've ever experienced). I stopped the valacyclovir after about 20 days. The symptoms abated 3 days later."

• SMM...
• July 25, 2019

For Cold Sores "I am so happy I found this! Or rather, found a doctor that prescribed it. It’s a miracle drug! I get probably 4-5 cold sores a year, particularly when I’m extra stressed, which is always the worst time for a cold sore. I never feel them coming the night before. I always wake up with several blisters that formed overnight. Anyway, I immediately take 2 grams of Valtrex (I always have it on hand! I get my prescription refilled immediately after I use it in prep for the next one). By mid-afternoon, it’s stopped itching. I take 2 more grams before bed. The next morning it’s grown a little but not bad. 2 more grams that second morning. By the afternoon of the second day, the blisters are mostly gone and only slight scabs remain. I’m lucky that mine are in the corner of my mouth. You can’t even see it by the second afternoon. I then reduce to 1 gram morning and night for a week just to be sure it’s totally gone (I’ve had them come back!)"

• Anonymous
• February 7, 2012

For Herpes Simplex, Suppression "I just started taking Valtrex, and it has been working great. Just contracted HSV2 in Dec. 2011, it's now Feb. 2012. Went to the hospital the day after I saw all the lesions and was on famciclovir (Famvir). Didn't really seem to do much for the lesions. I only had one week's worth of Famvir and was off antivirals until 3 weeks ago and had 3 mini outbreaks since then with 1 lesion each. Got on Valtrex, haven't even had itching or tingling since. Thanks, Valtrex."

• Her...
• January 1, 2021

For Herpes Simplex, Suppression "Okay. I long suspected I had herpes, I’d notice single outbreaks any time I had a cold. Then, when I turned 30, I had an outbreak not associated with a cold at all. I got on 500 mg Valtrex immediately, and still, I was having 1-2 outbreaks a month. So, based on that, I switched to acyclovir 400 mg 2x a day because 500 mg Valtrex was already more expensive, I didn’t want to pay for the 1 g. I did some digging and finally found that this actually is a documented medical experience, published in a couple of journal articles. For people with high outbreak numbers, 500 mg Valtrex is ineffective, while acyclovir, 1 g Valtrex, and famciclovir are. It would certainly shorten the length of the outbreak to 3-5 days when I took the treatment dose, but did not prevent. With 400 mg acyclovir 2x a day, I still get tingling and itching sometimes, but it’s been two months, and I haven’t had any outbreaks."

• Sta...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 31, 2019

For Varicella-Zoster "I started this medication the day after I noticed the rash. It was a small patch on my lower back (maybe 1 1/2 inches). I have luckily had little pain, but a couple of days the rash was itchy, sore, and uncomfortable. After four and 1/2 days on the meds, all of my 10-15 blisters are gone. It doesn’t seem like they even opened... I don’t see any crust. They are thankfully just shrinking and drying up. So, so thankful for this med!! (Took med with lots of water and food)."

• Tim...
• June 4, 2014

For Cold Sores "Got this prescription about 2 months ago, just in case I felt a cold sore coming on. Well, this morning I finally got to try it, and as far as I can tell, it seems to be working as well as past reviewers have posted. I felt it getting itchy for a couple of hours (I always have an itchy nose, so I just monitored it). I went to the bathroom at work about 2.5 hrs after feeling initial itching and noticed it turning red. (My cold sores come around the lower part of my nostril and partially inside my nose). I took 2 pills, and after about 30 mins, the itching and slight throbbing went away. It's now been 11 hrs since I took the first 2 pills, and the redness does seem to be retreating (but time will tell, different lighting in my home than my work)."

• Dee...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 19, 2022

For Cold Sores "I took 4 pills total, 2 every 12 hours. Within 1.5 hours, I already noticed a difference. Mind you, I waited too long to take these pills (I already had 3 cold sores on my lips). I felt itching and burning every night for 2 days, hoping it would go away on its own. Even after I waited days, these pills still relieved me, and within 2 days, they're almost gone and just a small crust now! No side effects for me. They were large but not hard to swallow, I drank a lot of water while taking them."

• Rol...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 6, 2022

For Herpes Zoster "I was put on Valtrex for dermatitis that was suspected shingles (which likely wasn't shingles as it was gone in 2 days, never blistered and never was painful). On the start of Day 3, I started getting what I thought was heat rash in my arm fold and waist. It spread like wildfire, and now I have hives/red welts over pretty much every part of my body except my face and back that itch like the worst itching you ever felt. I stopped the meds yesterday, and a day later I still have new hives popping up. 3 days of Prednisone starting now to try and get rid of the hives."

• KcB...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 20, 2012

For Cold Sores "Approx. 1 week ago, I started to feel and see a little dot starting to swell. I called my doctor immediately to request a prescription for Valtrex. However, my pharmacy provided me with the generic brand. I used the generic for 4 days, 500 mg, the swelling slowed down, but I could still feel the itch and knew the generic wasn't working. I had a prescription put in for the name brand Valtrex, after 1 day, the dot started to go down and dry up. Valtrex is the way to go for cold sore survivors."

• Jac...
• May 13, 2021

For Cold Sores "I'm 59 and used to get the occasional cold sore outbreaks, however, over the past 5 years, the outbreaks have subsided until this week. I happen to have an old prescription of Valtrex, and it really worked its magic, even though I took it after the sore appeared. In one day, the pain/itching went away, and the sore is barely visible. I only took 1000 MG twice, but discovered that the normal dose should be 2000 MG."

• Meg...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• February 11, 2023

For Herpes Simplex, Mucocutaneous/Immunocompromised Host "This is my 3rd day on Valtrex for HSV-2, and I started experiencing symptoms Friday, such as soreness, itchiness, and what felt like razor burns. I went to the ER that Sunday because I felt I may have been exposed to an STD since I experienced Chlamydia before and similar symptoms. So, after the visual examination, I was prescribed Valtrex 1g 2x a day, and I have been on it since Sunday. It is now Tuesday, and I still have soreness and can barely walk. The meds are working slowly but surely."

• luc...
• May 3, 2011

For Cold Sores "I am reading these responses, and it makes me feel so hopeful. I felt my bottom lip burning and itching this morning and ran home to use Abreva, then made a doctor's appointment and was prescribed Valtrex one-day treatment. It's been 5 hours, my blisters are still there, but at least they don't seem like they're growing, still itching and uncomfortable, though. I am supposed to see my boyfriend and his family this weekend, so I'm really hoping it dissolves very soon."

• Jus...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 11, 2022

For Herpes Simplex, Suppression "I don’t remember what year I was diagnosed. I usually try to do the natural route, but this last outbreak really caused me some real pain and distress. I usually take Lysine and just ride it out. Not this outbreak, I took ibuprofen. My genital area and my legs are hurting. I feel like my left leg is so itchy, and it’s taking so long to feel better. So I started Valtrex today. I hope I feel better soon."